Objective:
There are three major objectives to this research. The first is to quantify carbon sequestration, greenhouse gas emissions, and biomass yield for a managed switchgrass crop compared with unmanaged vegetation on marginal lands. The second is to compare direct incorporation of biochar prior to planting with a novel method to annually inject biochar into the soil at the same time as fertilizer applications. The third is to conduct a life cycle analysis to quantify the net global warming potential of each management strategy and compare them with unmanaged lands.

Approach:
Soil respiration and N2O and CH4 emissions will be monitored on switchgrass that will receive biochar at 10 Mg/ha in one application prior to planting or at 2 Mg/ha in each of five annual applications. Soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (n) N content will be monitored annually to a depth of 1.0 m. A life cycle assessment of greenhouse gas sources and sinks for each system will be conducted. Additional data to be collected will include volumetric soil water content, bulk density, air temperature, solar radiation, and rainfall. Weather data will be collected continuously during the growing season. Algorithms will be developed to quantify the effect of biochar on the measured soil properties.